[CHAPTER II.]
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| The moon cannot have even an imaginary rotation on its axis, | |
| [ 33] | but is generally believed to have. Quotations to prove this |
| Proofs that there can be no rotation. The most confused | |
| [ 35] | assertion that there is rotation shown to be without foundations |
| [ 37] | A gin horse does not rotate on its axis in its revolution |
| [ 38] | A gin horse, or a substitute, driven instead of being a driver |
| [ 38] | Results of the wooden horse being driven by the mill |
| The same results produced by the revolution of the moon. | |
| [ 39] | Centrifugal force sufficient to drive air and water away from our side of the moon |
| [ 40] | That force not sufficient to drive them away from its other side |
| [ 41] | No one seems ever to have thought of centrifugal force in connection with air and water on the moon |
| [ 41] | Near approach made by Hansen to this notion |
| [ 42] | Far-fetched reasons given for the non-appearance of air and water |
| [ 44] | The moon must have both on the far-off hemisphere |
| [ 44] | Proofs of this deduced from its appearance at change |
| Where the evidences of this may be seen if looked for at the right place. | |
| The centrifugal force shown to be insufficient to drive off even air, | |
| [ 45] | and less water, altogether from the moon |
| [ 47] | The moon must have rotated on its axis at one period of its existence |
| [ 48] | The want of polar compression no proof to the contrary |
| Want of proper study gives rise to extravagant conceptions, | |
| [ 48] | jumping at conclusions,and formation of "curious theories" |
A good deal of theorising has been expended in accounting for the absence of all but traces of an atmosphere and water on the moon, which might have been avoided had astronomers not caught up the notion, and stuck to it, that it rotates on its axis once for every revolution that it makes round the earth. It might be difficult to find out with whom the notion originated; but perhaps it was first conceived to be the case by some celebrated astronomer, and has been accepted by almost all his successors without being properly looked into. Any one who chose to take the trouble to study the matter thoroughly, would have easily discovered that the moon can have no rotation of any kind on its axis, and immediately afterwards have found out the reason why nothing beyond traces of air and water were to be seen on the side of it constantly turned towards the earth. This is another example we can give of erroneous ideas leading to erroneous and impossible conclusions, and preventing the truth from being discovered. That the rotation of the moon on its axis is stated to be a fact, by recognised and celebrated astronomers, will be seen from the following quotations.
(1) Sir John Herschel, in his "Treatise on Astronomy," new edition of 1835, says at page 230: "The lunar summer and winter arise, in fact, from the rotation of the moon on its own axis, the period of which rotation is exactly equal to its sidereal revolution about the earth, and is performed in a plane 1° 31´ 11´´ inclined to the ecliptic, and therefore nearly coincident with her own orbit. This is the cause why we always see the same face of the moon, and have no knowledge of the other side."
(2) In his "Poetry of Astronomy," page 187, Mr. Proctor says: "For my own part, though I cannot doubt that the substance of the moon once formed a ring around the earth, I think there is good reason for believing that when the earth's vaporous mass, receding, left the moon's mass behind, this mass must have been already gathered up into a single vaporous globe. My chief reason for thinking this is, that I cannot on any other supposition find a sufficient explanation of one of the most singular characteristics of our satellite—her revolution on her axis in the same mean time, exactly, as she circuits around the earth."
(3) Professor Newcomb, in his "Popular Astronomy," 5th edition, 1884, at page 313, has what follows: "The most remarkable feature in the motion of the moon is, that she makes one revolution on her axis in the same time that she revolves around the earth, and so always presents the same face to us. In consequence, the other side of the moon must remain for ever invisible to human eyes. The reason for this peculiarity is to be found in the ellipticity of her globe." Then he enlarges upon and confirms the fact of her rotation.
(4) Mr. George F. Chambers, in his "Handbook of Astronomy," 4th edition, 1889, says at page 119, Vol. I.: "In order that the same hemisphere should be continually turned towards us, it would be necessary not only that the time of the moon's rotation on its axis should be precisely equal to the time of the revolution in its orbit, but that the angular velocity in its orbit should, in every part of its course, exactly equal its angular velocity on its axis."
It may be necessary, to avoid misconception, to note that angular velocity on its axis confirms rotation; and what is more extraordinary, that Chambers must have thought that its angular velocity on its axis must have increased and diminished in order to agree with its increased and diminished velocities in its elliptic orbit at its perigee, apogee, and quadratures. A rather strange notion in mechanics where there is no provision made for acceleration or retardation of rotation.
(5) Dr. Samuel Kinns, in "Moses and Geology," twelfth thousand, 1889, says at page 208, "the same side of its (the moon's) sphere is always towards us. This could only happen by its having an axial rotation equal in period to its orbital revolution, which is 27d. 7h. 43m. 11s."